The water establishment in South Asia is significantly male dominated. This implies that major decisions about creation and utilization of water potential are by and large taken in the male domain- whether it be the macro level policy decisions at the national, state or project level or at the local community, village or water shed level. There is however incontrovertible evidence on the prominent role-played by women as water users as also as rich repositories of traditional knowledge and wisdom pertaining to water conservation and a balanced pattern of water use through adoption of corresponding life styles. This participation in the ‘practice’ of water use extends far beyond the domestic to embrace the productive and public arena. It is thus a striking irony that fifty percent of the population that is immersed in and bears the brunt of the ‘water situation’ has no control either over the existing state of affairs neither over the emerging trends of water resource development (WRD).

It is widely recognized and accepted that the mainstream paradigm of WRD hitherto adopted has serious limitations with regard to providing efficient, equitable and productive water service delivery for all sectors – domestic, agricultural, industrial etc. A major weakness of this viewpoint lies in the predominantly technical approach to conceptualizing water problems and prescribing remedial measures. However, harnessing water resources for social needs requires an inter-disciplinary perspective that integrates not only the different sources of water with other technical domains of land, soil, climate, agriculture etc. but also with the social and institutional context of WRD. Involvement of the various stakeholders in the process of policy formulation and implementation of water projects as well as their eventual utilization is widely recognized as being conducive to a more efficient, productive, equitable and ecologically sustainable WRD. The involvement of women at all levels – from the professional water experts to planners to active social mobilizers in the water sector as 50% of the users - assumes critical significance. Their exclusion therefore from various decision-making fora – as again corroborated through numerous studies/ observations and broadly acknowledged – is a cause for serious concern. It is serious because on the one hand it can pre-empt the various distortions associated with the mainstream WRD and on the other create the possibility of a better match between the socio-technical pattern of water supply with the complex set of water requirements by different sections of the community.

In light of foregoing, the exclusion of women from the domain of decision making in the water sector points to the need for deliberate action to ensure a greater visibility and assertion of their viewpoints which would otherwise tend to get drowned under the “business as usual” syndrome. The WWN in the countries of South Asia is an attempt to redress this basic imbalance in the understanding of water issues and consequent action plans that derive from the marginalization from women’s voice in the water sector.

The WWN proposes to be a platform for facilitating the recognition of women’s voice through organized and collective effort. This encompasses the entire spectrum from increasing visibility and presence of women at the highest level of technical expertise through an encouragement for capacity building of women for IWRM at the higher education level; having more women in the various national and state policy making bodies; encouraging more women based civil society organizations in the water sector at the grass roots etc. Conducting an advocacy campaign for a greater gender sensitive water policy and practice would also constitute a major agenda of WWNs.

The existing water networks in the region unfortunately do not provide adequate space for women’s voices. These networks typically suffer form problems of governance and transparency in the conduct of their business. Their outreach is limited both in numbers and constituency. Various categories of active water actors are excluded if not by explicit dictat but certainly through practical policies. If include at all – women’s voice is vulnerable, marginal and peripheral. It is therefore imperative to have independent and dedicated WWNs for a clear and forceful articulation of women’s perspective at the present historical juncture.

The practical form and nature of activities required in each of the SA countries in this context would differ depending on the degree of developments in this direction and the specific requirements. In India given the large and diversified geographical terrain and sociological conditions – it creates a need for disaggregated and decentralized structure of WWNs – wherein the national WWN would emerge only as federation of the zonal /state WWNs as is collectively decided and arrived at through a process of consultation among an initial set of WWN members and carried through a broader process by extending the networks in each region/zone. In countries like Bhutan, there may be a need to promote the network through strengthening the very small group of WWPs(Women and Water Professionals); in countries like Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh there already exist WWNs at various stages of evolutions and as active players. The plan for WWN for SA would be to initiate, consolidate and strengthen all the WWNs depending on the specific situation in each country and their requirements for support.

As of now, there is a WWN – SA secretariat that was managed through SASTAC by Simi Kamal from Pakistan. It will now be under the charge of Vijaya Shreshtha from Nepal on behalf of SASTAC, with the greater responsibility transferred to the recently constituted SAS-RWP. Limited funding was available intermittently through UNIFEM/GWP sources for regional/national (e.g. national WWN meetings, participation in SAWAF 1&2), international meetings (Participation in WWF 2 & 3), writing situation analysis papers for each country etc. Additionally, it had been agreed by SASTAC that a minimum of 10% of all project funding should be devoted for gender mainstreaming concerns in all the Country Water Partnership (CWPs) activities. However this failed to materialize in case of countries like India. In Sri Lanka there were problems of accessing the total activity funds from SASTAC. Further funding for such activities is being sought from GWA, that is an associated program of GWP Often such funding is available with considerable time delay, extended uncertainty, endless discussions and accompanied by stipulations that are not in consonance with the independent and democratic functioning of the networks. Even though limited funding for national meets has been made available, this serves more as a starter – especially for a large country as India. During the initial stages there is need for supporting the follow up activities of consolidating the scattered women oriented water actors in a single loop till the network acquires an identity and strength to be self sufficient. The newly formed SAS-RWP has no funds earmarked for WWN activity as of now and it will be quite a while before any concrete commitments are secured.

In this context, the following is a possible pilot project that can be taken up as a cross-country comparative action research study by interested member organizations of WWN in South Asia.

Action Research Project for Empowering Poor Women in drought prone areas in South Asia through Water Energy Security.

More than 70% of the population in South Asia resides and is dependent on the agriculture for their livelihoods. Water scarcity and droughts are looming large over the region. Water scarcity for the poor and marginalized people in the rural areas – women and men – assumes critical importance as they have limited state infrastructure available at their disposal. Areas where rainfall is meager are particularly hard hit. It has been observed that women in these areas suffer differently – those that migrate due to droughts as well as those that stay back in the villages. Innovative pilot projects that illustrate strategies for empowering these women through control over whatever existing water resources there are – in a drought prone area in South Asian arid areas – require to be taken up as an initiative towards a longer term objective of putting women on center stage for policy and practice of IWRM in South Asia.

The Concept
The project proposes to develop wastelands and forestland through designed (as opposed to natural) plantation by harnessing rainwater in the vicinity of the tree plantations and using this water during the lean period by water efficient techniques. The designed plantation is proposed to be of oil seed bearing trees that are ecologically well adjusted to the local terrain. The oil expelled from the seeds of these trees can then be used for replacing diesel for generating electricity for productive and consumptive uses at the local level. The oil extraction technology for using Bio-oil for energy generation is well developed by SUTRA – an organization based in Indian Institute for Science, Bangalore India. This is a tried and seasoned technology with proven results (see appendix 1).

The advantages of the non-conventional renewable energy generation for ecologically sustainable availability of energy source ready at hand and reproducible locally are significant. This energy source can then be used for transporting water from the point of accumulation and availability to the point of use, thus further enhancing productivity. The surplus water that is made available due to its efficient use (by reducing wastage due to evaporation, seepage etc.) for tree plantation can be used for low water consumption agriculture (food crops, fodder, fuel and oil – seed generating trees etc.) and domestic uses for humans, animals and birds i.e. for contributing to livelihood security.

Thus the project aims to evolve a locally self – reliant and community controlled energy generation system based on specific species of tree plantation on wastelands in the region and denuded forest areas that are increasing in many South Asian regions at an alarming rate. In Mahabubnagar district of Andhra Pradesh for instance – cultivable wasteland during the 90s increased to an astronomical rate of 700%! (Season and crop reports, GOI). The increased tree plantation will increase the green cover, yield income/energy, and involve small landowners and landless women and men, without requiring too much investment. Wastelands do not require to be leveled – which is expensive and time consuming- as trees can be grown on uneven lands and only the pit needs to be prepared. Thus, it constitutes an excellent strategy of wasteland regeneration. The initiative can be placed in the hands of women’s groups, who can be given trainings for the various stages of project implementation as an ongoing process.

The project has tremendous significance for demonstrating the viability of combining water conservation with enhanced tree plantation and renewable energy generation using the biomass that is produced – leaving the trees intact, which have additional advantages. It has wider fallout for low cost self-reliant energy availability in remote and inaccessible areas with concomitant potential for unleashing a process of overall development.